# RFK Jr. Accused of Blocking CDC Count of Measles Deaths

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/rfk-jr-accused-of-blocking-cdc-count-of-measles-deaths
- Published: 2026-09-16T01:12:01.566978+00:00
- Topics: measles-outbreak, vaccination, public-health, rfk-jr, pennsylvania

## What the left says
- Kennedy personally intervened to direct the CDC to exclude Pennsylvania's measles deaths from its official national tally, which critics see as manipulating data to fit a narrative downplaying the outbreak's severity.
- The outbreak represents the worst measles resurgence since 2000, when the disease was declared eliminated in the US, directly tied to declining vaccination rates that HHS leadership has failed to counter.
- Governor Shapiro argues Kennedy has stoked vaccine skepticism and misinformation while politicizing the crisis instead of coordinating a unified public health response.
- Kennedy has been accused of maligning the Amish community, who make up much of the affected population in Lancaster and Mifflin counties, rather than addressing the root causes of low vaccination.

## What the right says
- Kennedy denies directing the CDC to suppress Pennsylvania's deaths, calling Shapiro's accusation false and asserting CDC is simply applying a consistent methodology to how deaths are classified.
- Kennedy offered Shapiro federal assistance through CDC's Epi-Aid program, which has already helped several other states bring their outbreaks under control, but Shapiro has refused this help.
- Kennedy accuses Shapiro of politicizing a public health tragedy for partisan gain rather than working cooperatively with federal health officials.
- The term 'measles-associated' death itself is scrutinized, since it can include cases where the virus was present but not the definitive cause of death, similar to disputes over COVID death classifications.

## Common ground
- Pennsylvania has confirmed four measles-associated deaths in 2026, the first in the state in 35 years and the most in the US since the early 1990s.
- All four individuals who died were unvaccinated, and two of the deaths involved infants too young to have received the MMR vaccine.
- Pennsylvania's outbreak, centered in Lancaster and Mifflin counties, has grown to nearly 700 cases across 38 counties.
- The MMR vaccine is highly effective, offering 97% protection against measles, and both sides reference this in discussing prevention.

## Sources
- [Just The News](https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/health/fourth-measles-associated-death-reported-pennsylvania-most-reported-us-1992?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators) (Right)
- [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pennsylvania-teen-dies-measles-complications-coroner-cdc-2026-rcna597980) (Lean Left)
- [Newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/pennsylvania-governor-blasts-rfk-jr-after-two-more-measles-related-deaths-12446524) (Lean Right)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/15/pennsylvania-measles-outbreak-death) (Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/09/15/pennsylvania-teen-died-rare-severe-complication-measles-coroner-says/) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/09/13/pennsylvania-woman-dies-measles-related-complications-local-coroner-says/) (Lean Left)

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